Microsoft and NABTU Expand Partnership for AI Skills in Skilled Trades

North America — April 21, 2026 — In an innovative move to enhance workforce development in an AI-driven world, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and Microsoft Corp. have expanded their partnership. This collaboration aims to equip North American workers with the necessary skills for thriving in an AI-powered economy.

Continuing their successful training of 1,500 instructors nationwide, the partnership now offers free AI literacy courses and widely recognized credentials. This initiative seeks to provide foundational AI skills to skilled craft professionals across North America. It also strengthens ties with TradesFutures, a nonprofit organization, to promote career opportunities in the skilled trades. By integrating AI literacy into TradesFutures’ apprenticeship readiness program, the collaboration extends across 34 states, linking individuals to union construction apprenticeships and careers.

This partnership reflects a committed effort by NABTU and Microsoft to develop sustainable career paths and AI skills training tailored for the skilled trades. With a focus on on-site realities, safety, and quality, the training is delivered via trusted union apprenticeship systems and Microsoft's LinkedIn Learning platform. This empowers millions to embark on careers that offer family-sustaining incomes.

Aligned with Microsoft’s Community-First AI Infrastructure commitments, this initiative emphasizes benefiting local communities where new infrastructure is established.

“The people building the physical infrastructure of the AI economy, like electricians, ironworkers and pipefitters, deserve a share in its opportunity,” stated Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. “We’re expanding our work with NABTU, bringing free AI training to millions of skilled craft professionals across North America, while preserving the hands-on expertise that defines their craft.”

The enhancement of AI education forms the core of this partnership, integrating it into NABTU’s Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) model. This initiative offers hands-on learning across all 50 states and Canada. By collaborating with JATC faculty on curriculum design, the focus is on creating AI use cases relevant to the skilled trades. Furthermore, new, no-cost AI courses on LinkedIn Learning are now accessible to various professionals, offering an AI literacy credential upon completion.

During NABTU’s annual Legislative Conference, President Sean McGarvey emphasized, “NABTU’s training model has always been about scale, quality and lifelong opportunity. Through this expanded collaboration with Microsoft, we are making AI training available to instructors, apprentices and journey-level workers across our system. This work helps keep the building trades at the forefront of innovation while advancing our mission to deliver family-sustaining careers and help shape how new technology expands opportunity for every worker.”

TradesFutures, a nonprofit, plays a significant role in this partnership, operating in 34 states through the Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which enrolls over 7,700 people annually. The program leverages the award-winning Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) to introduce participants to the construction industry, preparing them for apprenticeship applications of their choice.

This collaboration advances NABTU's mission to improve access to skilled trades and modernize workforce development as digital tools redefine safety, productivity, and job requirements in construction. Alongside infrastructure development, the initiative ensures skilled professionals gain the necessary tools and training, fostering an inclusive, future-ready workforce.

About NABTU

North America’s Building Trades Unions unite 14 national and international unions in the building and construction industry, representing over 3 million skilled professionals in the United States and Canada. Annually, NABTU and partners invest over $2.5 billion in private funds to operate over 1,900 training facilities across North America. For more information, visit nabtu.org.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) develops AI-driven platforms and tools to address customers’ evolving needs. The company aims to make AI widely accessible and accountable, empowering people and organizations globally. For more information, contact Microsoft Media Relations at (425) 638-7777 or rapidresponse@wecommunications.com.

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